CDMA/EVDO virtualization

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed for a CDMA base station management gateway for integrating CDMA into an LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) core network. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed, comprising: a base station management gateway situated between a code division multiple access (CDMA) base transceiver station (BTS) and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) core network, the base station management gateway also situated between an additional base station and the EPC core network, the base station management gateway The method may further comprise: a stateful interworking proxy configured to perform interworking of CDMA signaling to Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRAN) signaling by using an S2a/S2b interface toward the EPC and an A10/A11 interface towards the CDMA BTS; and a packet routing virtual function configured to enable mobile devices attached to the CDMA BTS to obtain IP connectivity via the EPC core network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/883,083, filed Jan. 29, 2018, which is a non-provisional conversionof, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to, U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/451,333, filed Jan. 27, 2017 andtitled “CDMA/EVDO Virtualization,” which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes. Additionally, U.S. Pat. App.Pub. Nos. US20150257051, US20140086120, US20140092765, US20140133456,US20140233412, US20150045063, US20150078167, US20150173111,US20160135132, and US20170273134A1 are hereby incorporated by referencein their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

In recent times, the prevalence and popularity of Internet Protocol(IP)-based systems has given rise to a new network architecture, LongTerm Evolution (LTE), that provides voice and data services over IP.However, there is a need to provide legacy services, such as CDMA/EVDOservices, over IP in a way that is compatible with the new IP-basedhardware and software stack. Currently, CDMA/EVDO services are providedto legacy subscribers by simply maintaining the original CDMA/EVDOinfrastructure at the telecom provider's back office. This results invarious complications and problems, such as: difficult interworkingsbetween legacy services and present-generation services; maintenancecosts for old hardware and software, including power and airconditioning costs; and expensive service agreements on old hardware andsoftware.

A need therefore exists to eliminate dependency on legacy hardware andsoftware, while still providing the legacy CDMA/EVDO (Evolution DataOptimized)/EVDV (Evolution Data Voice) services. The present disclosurepresents a way to meet this need.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a network node, called the HNG (Parallel WirelessHetNet Gateway) and situated between the radio access network (RAN) andthe core network, is interposed. This network node performs interworkingor translation so as to create a call in the IMS Core. The HNGprovides/performs the functions of a traditional MSC toward the RAN, andtowards the core provides a SIP proxy/SIP messaging function, so thatLTE or IMS voice or data can be provided. Also, when a mobile deviceregisters, this can be updated in IMS core so that incoming call (calltermination) can happen and paging procedure initiated.

In a first embodiment, a system may be disclosed, comprising: a basestation management gateway situated between a code division multipleaccess (CDMA) base transceiver station (BTS) and an Evolved Packet Core(EPC) core network, the base station management gateway also situatedbetween an additional base station and the EPC core network, the basestation management gateway The method may further comprise: a statefulinterworking proxy configured to perform interworking of CDMA signalingto Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial RadioAccess (EUTRAN) signaling by using an S2a/S2b interface toward the EPCand an A10/A11 interface towards the CDMA BTS; and a packet routingvirtual function configured to enable mobile devices attached to theCDMA BTS to obtain IP connectivity via the EPC core network by providinga packet data serving node (PDSN) interface to the CDMA BTS, andconfigured to also enable mobile devices attached to the additional basestation to obtain IP connectivity via the EPC core network, the packetrouting virtual function in communication with the stateful interworkingproxy, and the stateful interworking proxy and the packet routingvirtual function may be configured to interwork CDMA protocols to LongTerm Evolution (LTE) protocols for communicating with and requestingresources from the EPC core network.

As used herein, CDMA may be one or more of cdmaOne/IS-95, cdma2000,evolution data optimized (EVDO), evolution data and voice (EVDV), orUltra Mobile Broadband. The base station management gateway may befurther configured to communicate via a P1 interface towards anauthentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, and a P-Hinterface toward a home agent or home AAA server, on behalf of themobile devices attached to the CDMA BTS. The packet routing virtualfunction may be configured to terminate point-to-point (PPP) sessionswith mobile devices attached to the CDMA BTS. The packet routing virtualfunction may be configured to act as a mobile IP foreign agent formobile devices attached to the CDMA BTS. The base station managementgateway further comprises a base station controller (BSC) and packetmobile switching center (MSC) virtual function.

The base station management gateway further comprises a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP) proxy for connecting SIP protocol voiceconnections. The SIP proxy acts as a SIP user agent (UA) on behalf ofmobile users, performs SIP signaling towards an IP Mobility Subsystem(IMS) core network within the EPC core network, and performsinterworking between CDMA and SIP signaling protocols.

The base station management gateway may be configured to interact withthe additional base station as a home nodeB gateway (HNBGW). The basestation management gateway may be configured to terminate an encryptedconnection with a CDMA mobile device, thereby providing a secure anchorpoint for the CDMA mobile device for connection to the EPC core network.The base station management gateway may be a virtualization gatewayproviding virtualization by using a single identifier towards the EPCcore network for a plurality of eNodeBs, home NodeBs, or CDMA BTSes. Thebase station management gateway may be configured to perform inter-radioaccess technology steering of a session from a first radio accesstechnology (RAT) to a second RAT, the first RAT being CDMA and thesecond RAT being one of 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and wireless local areanetworking (WLAN). The base station management gateway may be configuredto provide one or more application-aware inter-radio access technology(inter-RAT) slices across CDMA, 3G, 4G, 5G, and wireless local areanetworking (WLAN) technologies, the inter-RAT slices being based onapplication-layer information gathered at the base station managementgateway. The base station management gateway may be configured toprovide handovers between the CDMA BTS and one or more of a 2G basestation, a 3G base station, a 4G base station, a 5G base station, and aWi-Fi access point.

This application would provide services for both data and voice, forboth control plane and user plane, for both circuit switched and packetswitched services, in some embodiments. CDMA2000 service could also beprovided, in some embodiments, in a similar fashion. In someembodiments, the MSC could be a self-contained module, aninter-dependent module within HNG, or a separate VM, for example. Insome embodiments, multiple MSC virtualization may be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic network architecture diagram for 3G and other-Gprior art networks.

FIG. 2 is a first schematic network architecture diagram of a firstnetwork architecture, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a second schematic network architecture diagram of the firstnetwork architecture, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a first schematic network architecture diagram of a secondnetwork architecture, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a second schematic network architecture diagram of the secondnetwork architecture, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a signaling call flow showing registration of a mobile device,in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a signaling call flow showing voice call origination by amobile device, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a signaling call flow showing voice call termination, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing a network functionvirtualization architecture, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a schematic architecture diagram of an exemplary gateway, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic architecture diagram of an exemplary basestation, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, there is a need to virtualize the CDMA/EVDO corenetwork (henceforth called the CDMA core network). By enabling the CDMAcore network to be run on a modern software architecture, it becomespossible to use virtual machines, such as those offered by VMWare,Docker, etc., managed using industry-standard methods for managingvirtual machines, as well as high-performance scalable commodityhardware, to reduce costs and improve capex and opex for telecomoperators.

An architecture is described to enable virtualization of CDMA/EVDO corenetwork nodes using the Parallel Wireless HetNet Gateway [HNG], oranother similar node. The Parallel Wireless HNG is a network node thatsits between the radio access network (RAN) and the core network. Thisvirtualization gateway enables the details of particular network nodesto be hidden or suppressed. For example, a plurality of RAN nodes may bemanaged by the virtualization gateway such that it is treated as asingle RAN node by the core network (e.g., for MME mobility managementand handover purposes), while the RAN nodes themselves also benefit byreduced signaling among RAN nodes (e.g., X2 coordination between nodes).As well, virtualization may be performed in the other direction, fromthe core network to the RAN, such that multiple core networks can beaccessed without the RAN nodes being required to manage multiple corenetworks.

As used herein, in some instances, virtualization is understood to meanthe use of an aggregator proxy, such that the aggregator represents aplurality of nodes as a single node. For example, multiple base stationsmay be represented as a single base station, or multiple core networksmay be represented as a single core network. This allows for flexiblyallowing a particular base station to be connected to a particular corenetwork, even when the number of base stations and core networks islarge, or in flux. This also allows for enabling heterogeneous networksto talk to each other by the use of interworking at the aggregator node.In some embodiments, this is as simple as IP Network Address Translation(NAT); in other embodiments this also includes the use of statefulproxies to set up communications with the core network, for example, toenable a mobile device to attach to the core network, while hiding thespecific identity of the base station it is passing through. A specificmethod for virtualizing up to 255 eNodeBs towards an LTE core network,as well as the general use of a stateful proxy architecture in avirtualization node, is described in US20140133456, which has beenincorporated by reference.

In other instances, virtualization is used with an alternate meaning tomean isolation of software components from the underlying hardware, forexample, with reference to FIG. 9 . Implementation of virtual networkfunctions (VNF) may be performed in such a manner, providing numerousadvantages known to one of skill in the art.

In some embodiments, virtualization of radio access nodes may beperformed over multiple radio access technologies (RATs). The methodsdescribed herein can be used to virtualize RAN nodes of multiple typestoward a single core network, without necessarily requiring the corenetwork to be adapted, by interworking the protocols and interfaces ofthe RAN to the protocols and interfaces of the core. As describedherein, an operator may provide CDMA/EVDO network access by interworkingthe CDMA protocol at the RAN to LTE at the core. Either enhanced ornon-standard RAN nodes, or third-party standard CDMA nodes, may be usedin conjunction with an interworking proxy as described herein.Packet-switched and circuit-switched communications may both be proxiedand virtualized, in some embodiments. Control plane and data planecommunications may both be proxied and virtualized, in some embodiments.Virtualization of the CDMA circuit core may be performed at a firststage, and virtualization of the CDMA circuit core may be performed at asecond stage.

In some embodiments, virtual network functions (VNFs) may be provided atthe virtualizing network gateway. In particular, VNFs may be provided,either as processes, threads, containers, virtual machines, or othermeans of providing executable software. Single or multiple VNFs may beprovided. VNFs may be intermixed with other types of executablesoftware. VNFs may provide various features as described further below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic network architecture diagram for 3G and other-Gprior art networks. A 3G access network (CDMA/EVDO) 101 is shown,including 3G devices 101 a, CDMA base transceiver stations 101 b, basestation controller (BSC) 101 c, and packet control function (PCF) 101 d.4G access network (LTE) 102 is shown, with 4G mobile devices (UEs) 102 aand eNodeBs 102 b. Additionally, a Wi-Fi access network 103 is shown,with Wi-Fi devices 103 a, 103 b, trusted Wi-Fi access gateway (TWAG) 103c, and untrusted Wi-Fi gateway 103 d.

Each radio access technology (RAT) of these wireless access networks isconnected to its own core network. CDMA access network 101 is coupled to3G circuit core 112 via the A1/A2 interface and 3G packet core 113 viathe A10/A11 interface. LTE access network 102 is coupled to LTE packetcore (evolved packet core, or EPC) 114 via the S1 interface. Wi-Fiaccess network 103 is coupled to an evolved packet data gateway (EPDG)via the SWu interface, which provides a secure gateway into the corenetwork of a telecom operator. Each network has its own appropriateprotocols, standards, and messages.

Each core network is itself coupled to internal services provided by thenetwork operator, such as SCP 122, home agent 121, home AAA 123, SMSC120, PCRF 119, HLR/HSS 118, AAA 117, and IMS 116. While certain networkservices are used by multiple cores, such as authentication,authorization and accounting (AAA) server 117, most of these internalservices are specific to one core network or another core network (e.g.,the Internet Multimedia Subsystem, or IMS 116, is used by the LTE EPC114), leading to redundancy and operator maintenance expense.

FIG. 2 is a first schematic network architecture diagram of a firstnetwork architecture, in accordance with some embodiments. 3G accessnetwork 201 (including devices 201 a, BTS 202 b, BSC 201 c, and PCF 201d), 4G access network 202 (including UEs 202 a and eNodeB 202 b), andWi-Fi access network 203 (including devices 203 a and Wi-Fi AP 203 b)are no longer operationally independent but instead share a singlecoordinating node, the Parallel Wireless HetNet Gateway [TM] 204. ThisHNG 204 provides virtualization of network nodes, interworking,self-organizing network functionality, and inter-RAT coordination, asfollows. Noteworthy is that access networks 201, 202, 203 are modernizedto use only Internet Protocol (IP) based architectures, which simplifiesand reduces the cost of the access networks. This is a feature of theexisting 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi access networks that can be leveraged by thepresent disclosure, as any and all backhaul to the operator corenetworks can be using IP and standard Internet infrastructure (e.g.,public Internet or private fiber, etc.).

In operation, the HNG provides gateway functionality for allcommunications for the 4G and Wi-Fi access networks, including signalingto 4G core 214. For the 3G access network, in this scenario the 3Gaccess network uses the HNG 204 for all packet-switched communicationsto the 3G packet core 213 via the A10/A11 protocols, but not forcircuit-switched communications, which are handled directly by the 3Gcircuit core 212. SCP 222, SMSC 220, HLR/HSS 218, IMS 216, PCRF 211, AAA207, home agent 205, and home AAA 206 are still present in this firstnetwork architecture. This architecture supports both 3Gcircuit-switched fallback for the 4G network, via the IuCS connection tothe 3G circuit core 212, as well as native 4G voice calling via Voiceover LTE (VoLTE) and the IMS core 216. Virtualization of network nodesmay or may not be performed for any or all of the access networks, insome embodiments. 3G (CDMA) access network 201 is handled much the sameas a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) 3G accessnetwork, using a dedicated 3G core. In some embodiments, the 3G (CDMA)access network's communications are interworked to 3G (UMTS)communications, to enable the use of a single 3G core network for bothUMTS and CDMA. This is done by interworking at the HNG 204. In someembodiments, packet-switched communications are interworked; in otherembodiments, both packet- and circuit-switched communications (notshown) are interworked. HNG 204 uses 3G/CDMA home agent 205 and home AAA206 to provide CDMA-native services, in some embodiments. For data path,the Parallel Wireless HetNet Gateway (HNG) may thus virtualize thesecall flows toward the RAN but would provide the underlying IP dataconnectivity directly over IP, meaning that the call flows would bereasonably similar to existing call flows at the RAN, but would involvedirect IP traffic upstream from the HNG.

In some embodiments, a 3G SGSN and GGSN are provided by 3G packet core213; a PDSN virtual function is provided at HNG 204, in some embodiments(as described further below). The A10/A11 interfaces are proxied using astateful gateway and/or virtualized, providing a standard interfacetowards the PCF/BSC. The P1 interface towards the AAA server is alsoproxied and/or virtualized. The P-H interface towards the homeagent/home AAA server are also proxied and/or virtualized. In someembodiments, the HA/FA/AAA servers may be specific to CDMA.

In some embodiments, handovers may be provided within RATs by proxyinghandover communications into the appropriate core network, e.g., forCDMA, the 3G circuit core. In some embodiments, inter-RAT handovers maybe provided at the gateway 204, in a standards-compliant manner via thesource core network and the target core network, or in a proxied and/orvirtualized manner by proxying handover communications from one RAT intoappropriate handover communications toward the core network of anotherRAT. In some embodiments, the gateway may be configured to provide oneor more application-aware inter-radio access technology (inter-RAT)slices across CDMA, 3G, 4G, 5G, and wireless local area networking(WLAN) technologies, the inter-RAT slices being based onapplication-layer information gathered at the base station managementgateway. These techniques and methods for handover and network slicingmay apply to FIG. 2 and the first architecture, and to all otherarchitectures described herein.

FIG. 3 is a second schematic network architecture diagram of the firstnetwork architecture, in accordance with some embodiments. The firstnetwork architecture enables interworking of CDMA to LTE, with respectto the packet virtualization. 3G access network 301 (including MS 301 a,BTS 301 b, BSC 301 c, and PCF 301 d) is in communication via A1/A2 with3G circuit core 312, which includes a 3G MSC/VLR. 3G circuit core 312relies upon SCP 322, SMSC 320, HLR/HSS 218. HNG 304 is in communicationwith 3G access network 103 via A10/A11. HNG 304 includes a PDSN VNF. ThePDSN VNF operates to enable the 3G CDMA access network 301 to access theInternet and other networks using CDMA-standard protocols, and inparticular, acts as the foreign agent (FA) in the context of CDMA mobileIP registration and provides termination of the point-to-point (PPP)data link with the mobile device. The PDSN at the HNG also provides IProuting and gatewaying. The PDSN VNF may be in a virtual machine, insome embodiments. Instead of communicating with the 3G circuit core, thePDSN VNF may directly provide access to one or more packet data networksand may provide billing, accounting, and tracking in conjunction withAAA 307. Circuit-switched connections may still be redirected to 3Gcircuit core 312. Instead of 3G or CDMA protocols, the HNG 304 isenabled to interwork A10/A11 to SWm/P1, so that the LTE operator corenetwork can be used to provide services to the CDMA access network. Aswell, HNG 304 monitors state and sends appropriate communications to the3G CDMA core network home agent 305 and home AAA 306 to, for example,register the HNG's network address as the mobile device's foreign IPaddress for purposes of providing CDMA-based mobility. HNG 304 providesstateful proxy functionality to enable the A10/A11 interworking and theP-H interworking.

In some embodiments, the PDSN VNF may: establish, maintain, andterminate PPP sessions with mobile stations; support simple and mobileIP services; act as mobile IP foreign agents for visiting mobilestations; handle authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) formobile stations (including proxying and retaining AAA state at the VNF,and forwarding AAA state to AAA servers in the LTE core network or anyother core network, and using the RADIUS protocol as appropriate); routepackets between mobile stations and external packet data networks; andcollect usage data and forward same to AAA servers. In some embodiments,the PDSN VNF may be at the HNG, and may be co-located with other gatewayservices, NAT services, proxying services, AAA services, LTE PGW proxyfunctions, and other functions or services. In some embodiments,accelerated packet forwarding may be enabled using hardwareacceleration, for example, by using software APIs and middlewareconfigured to take advantage of hardware acceleration.

FIG. 4 is a first schematic network architecture diagram of a secondnetwork architecture, in accordance with some embodiments. The secondnetwork architecture enables interworking of both the circuit-switchedand the packet-switched CDMA networks. CDMA access network 401(including MSes 401 a and BTS 401 b), 4G/LTE access network 402(including UEs 402 a and eNodeB 402 b), and Wi-Fi access network 403(including devices 403 a and AP 403 b) are provided. All access networksare gatewayed by HNG 404, which is in communication with a 4G packetcore 414, as well as AAA 407 and home agent 405, and indirectly throughthe AAA and home agent, home AAA 406 and HLR/HSS 418, and indirectlythrough 4G EPC 414, IMS core 416 and PCRF 419. S2a/S2b interfaces may beused towards the 4G packet core 514 for packet data connectivity andS1-AP/S1-U for signaling connectivity. Compared to HNG 204/304, HNG 404subsumes BSC 201 c/301 c and PCF 201 d/301 d functions of the CDMAaccess network. These may be running as virtual network functions on theHNG 404, or in any other executable form, preferably in a form that iscapable of being virtualized. To facilitate the use of these virtualnetwork functions on HNG 404, an enhanced version of the Abis over IPinterface is used to interoperate with BTS 401 b. In some embodiments,the BTS 401 b may be specially configured to interoperate with HNG 404and may support special SON functions, network node virtualization, etc.In some embodiments, the BTS 401 b may be a standard BTS. Whether theBTS is enhanced or not, the HNG 404 is enabled to live in a standarddata center as a result of all the RANs using IP, including via theBTS's use of Abis over IP.

HNG 404 uses LTE-standard protocols, specifically, S1-AP/S1-U/S2a/S2b totalk to the EPC 414, instead of IuPS/IuCS, making a 3G core network nolonger needed. SWm/P1 is used to communicate with AAA 407. The S1 andSwm protocols are interworked to and from CDMA protocols to enableinteroperation, using the stateful proxy described herein. A VNF is usedfor the PDSN functionality, for interoperating with HA 405 and home AAA406. Packet-switched communications are able to be interworked directlyin this way.

In some embodiments, in the second network architecture, virtualizationmay be performed including a VNF of the BSC (IP-based); packet MSC; SIPproxy; and S2a/S2b interface towards the LTE EPC PGW. The BSC IP VNF maysupport Abis over IP; may support proprietary BTS interfaces dependingon vendor; and may support Alp/A2p interfaces toward the MSC VNF (andmay support these interfaces internally via interprocess communication,or local loopback network communication, or another method, or may omitunnecessary communication between co-located VNFs). The BSC IP VNF maysupport the 3GPP2 A.S0012-D v3.0 specification and the 3GPP2 A.S0003-Aspecification, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety for all purposes.

In some embodiments, in the second network infrastructure, the packetMSC VNF may support Alp/A2p interfaces towards the BSC VNF and maysupport the 3GPP2 A.S0012-D v3.0 specification. In some embodiments, thepacket MSC VNF may interact with the SIP proxy VNF and may support theinterface towards the HLR/HSS.

In some embodiments, in the second network infrastructure, the SIP proxyVNF may act as a SIP UA on behalf of a mobile user; may support SIPsignaling as well as media towards the IMS core; may supportinterworking between CDMA voice signaling/media interfaces and SIPsignaling and media, including transcoding; may support S2a/S2b(GTP-based) interfaces towards the LTE EPC; and may also supportappropriate security protocols (IPsec, IMS-AKA).

FIG. 5 is a second schematic network architecture diagram of the secondnetwork architecture, in accordance with some embodiments. Continuingon, for circuit-switched communications, 3G/CDMA access network(including devices 501 a and BTS 501 b) 501 is in communication with HNG504 using Abis over IP. HNG 504 also includes a BSC IP VNF, a packet MSCVNF, a Session Initiation Proxy (SIP) proxy VNF, and a PDSN VNF. S2a/S2binterfaces may be used towards the 4G packet core 514 for packet dataconnectivity and S1-AP/S1-U for signaling connectivity. Since no circuitcore is available, the 4G packet core 514 is used in conjunction withthe SIP proxy. The SIP proxy is enabled to proxy calls to and from themobile station 501 a, and may include transcoding, such that an incomingcall received via IMS core 516, which will be IP-based, is transcoded tothe specific formats expected by the SS7-compliant, circuit-switched 3Gaccess network 501. In some embodiments, comfort noise, DTMF tones, etc.may also be provided at gateway 504. Gateway 504 provides statefulproxying, interworking, and transcoding of any and all circuit-switchedcalls. In some embodiments, an high rate packet data (HRPD) servinggateway (HSGW) may also be present at gateway 504, and may be present asa VNF. The HSGW can talk to the PGW as a local mobility anchor (LMA) andmay be used as a migration path to LTE, in some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a signaling call flow showing registration of a mobile device,in accordance with some embodiments. MS/BTS 601, BSC 602, MSC 603, SIPproxy 604, and IMS core 605 are shown performing a registration process.BSC 602, MSC 603, and SIP proxy 604 are functions provided by an HNG asdescribed herein. When a location update is sent by the mobile station,the BSC sends a message to the HNG, which interposes a proprietarymessage 606 via a SIP proxy 604 to register the MS at the SIP proxy. TheSIP proxy performs registration at the IMS core. When the IMS coreresponds with an affirmative response, the HNG interworks the messagesto a location update accept message, which is then sent to MS 601.

FIG. 7 is a signaling call flow showing voice call origination by amobile device, in accordance with some embodiments. MS/BTS 701, BSC 702,MSC 703, SIP proxy 704, and IMS core 705 are shown performing a voicecall origination. BSC 702, MSC 703, and SIP proxy 704 are functionsprovided by an HNG as described herein. A call origination by the MS 701sent to the HNG is intercepted and turned into an INVITE message at theSIP proxy 704. The SIP message is used to initiate the call at the IMScore 705. When the IMS invitation is registered at the IMS core, the HNGgenerates BSC messages to connect service at the MSC. At 707, a SIPringback message is interworked to an appropriate BSC message, resultingin a ringtone. At 708, a SIP OK message is interworked to an appropriateBSC message to complete the call.

FIG. 8 is a signaling call flow showing voice call termination, inaccordance with some embodiments. MS/BTS 801, BSC 802, MSC 803, SIPproxy 804, and IMS core 805 are shown performing a voice calltermination. BSC 802, MSC 803, and SIP proxy 804 are functions providedby an HNG as described herein. When the IMS core sends a SIP INVITEmessage to terminate a call at the mobile station, the SIP Proxy VNF 802interworks the message to send a paging message 806 to the MS via theBTS. At 807, the MS responds, which is handled by the stateful proxy atthe HNG, and the HNG generates a SIP RINGING message for the IMS core.Service is then connected by the stateful proxy at the HNG, includinginterworking and generation of tones, in some embodiments. At 808, theconnection is completed via interworking from IMS/SIP to the enhancedAbis interface, and a voice call is initiated.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing a network functionvirtualization architecture, in accordance with some embodiments. Anetwork device 900 is shown with multiple network functionvirtualization instances. OSS/BSS management layer 901 is incommunication with an orchestrator 905, which handles orchestration, VNFmanagement, and virtualized infrastructure management. Each VNF includesa service, VNF and infrastructure description layer, which providesfeedback to orchestrator 905. Instances 903 are instantiated as part ofthe virtualization layer, each with a component that speaks to anelement management system (EMS), and with a component that providesdifferent functions; a gateway VNF, a cloud RAN VNF, a self-organizingnetwork (SON) VNF, and a security VNF are shown, but other VNFs arecontemplated, including the PDSN VNF, SIP proxy VNF, etc. as describedelsewhere herein. Each VNF is managed by the VNF manager. Each VNF isalso coupled to a lower-layer NFVI layer, which provides virtualcompute, storage, and networking, and through a virtualization layer,access to underlying hardware resources 904 that may be swapped out orextended at any time. The modules described herein and below withreference to FIG. 10 are intended to be implemented at the VNF layer asdescribed herein, in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, a security VNF may be provided that is configuredto: provide unified security across all RAN, VNFs+mesh; provide3GPP-based standard IPsec; provide a security gateway for licensed andunlicensed access (Small Cell gateway TWAG/SaMOG, ePDG); provide secureauthentication; and utilize virtualized fast path programming APIs toaccelerate packet routing via hardware.

In some embodiments, gateway VNFs may be provided that provide: SuperCell/Virtual-eNB; CDMA EVDO PDSN; Enables 3G/4G/Wi-Fi real-time networkSON; X2 Gateway; Small Cell gateway/HeNBGW; HNB Gateway/Virtual RNC;Security GW; Wi-Fi Controller/Gateway (TWAG, SaMOG, ePDG); UnlicensedAssist Backhaul (SDN); MEC; MOCN; IoT; Unified/not siloed for networkelasticity, agility, and flexibility; Real-time multi-technology SON hasvisibility into 3G and 4G to make better decisions; RAN virtualizationfor 3G and 4G (vRNC and vHNB GW for 3G) and vHeNB GW+veNB for 4G; MECworks w/SDN+X2 and leverages scheduling to minimize latency (i.e.buffering in videos); and Virtualized fast path API usage, providinghigh performance routing. In some embodiments, C-RAN and SON VNFs may beprovided that are configured to enable multi-technology (3G, 4G, Wi-Fi)C-RAN and SON.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a virtualization gateway in a LongTerm Evolution (LTE) architecture, in accordance with some embodiments.Virtualization gateway 1001 provides services to, and is coupled to,eNodeB 1 1002 and eNodeB 10 1003, on a RAN side of a network (i.e.,inside of the gateway). Virtualization gateway 1001 provides servicesto, and is coupled to, MME 1004, macro eNodeB 1005, and macro eNodeB1006, on a core network side of the network (outside of the gateway).Virtualization gateway 1001 corresponds to LAC 110, in some embodiments.

Within virtualization gateway 1001 are self-organizing network (SON)module 1011, containing neighbor relation table (NRT) 1012 and UEmeasurement report processing module 1013; evolved packet core (EPC)module 1021, containing EPC finite state machine module 1022 and macroeNodeB table 1023; radio access network (RAN) module 1031, containingeNodeB finite state machine module 1032 and eNodeB table 1034; and userequipment (UE) module 1041, containing UE finite state machine module1042 and S1/X2 handover mapping table 1043. Each of modules 1011, 1021,1031, and 1041 are coupled to each other within base station managementgateway 1001, and may execute on one or more shared processors (notshown) coupled with memory (not shown).

In some embodiments, SON module 1011 may perform NRT maintenance, loadinformation processing and fractional frequency reuse (FFR) processing;RAN module 1031 may perform X2 association management with eNodeBs 1002,1003; EPC module 1021 may perform X2 association management with macroeNodeBs 1005, 1006; and UE module may perform X2 handover and S1/X2translation between eNodeBs 1002, 1003 and macro eNodeBs 1005, 1006. Allthe above managers/modules interact with each other to accomplish theassigned functionality.

In some embodiments, virtualization gateway 1001 may include one or moreof the followingabstraction/automation/orchestration/aggregation/optimization functions,potentially as VNFs: Super Cell/Virtual-eNB; CDMA/EVDO PDSN; 3G/4G/Wi-Fireal-time network SON; X2 gateway; Small Cell gateway/HeNBGW; HNBGateway/Virtual RNC; Wi-Fi Controller/Gateway (TWAG, SaMOG, ePDG);Security GW; Unlicensed Assist Backhaul (SDN); MEC; C-RAN.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a mesh network base station, inaccordance with some embodiments. Mesh network base station 1100 mayinclude processor 1102, processor memory 1104 in communication with theprocessor, baseband processor 1106, and baseband processor memory 1108in communication with the baseband processor. Base station 1100 may alsoinclude first radio transceiver 1110 and second radio transceiver 1112,internal universal serial bus (USB) port 1116, and subscriberinformation module card (SIM card) 1118 coupled to USB port 1114. Insome embodiments, the second radio transceiver 1112 itself may becoupled to USB port 1116, and communications from the baseband processormay be passed through USB port 1116.

A virtualization layer 1130 may also be included for mediatingcommunications with an evolved packet core EPC, specifically includingthe core network EPC (not shown) and local evolved packet core (EPC)module 1120. Local EPC 1120 may be used for authenticating users andperforming other EPC-dependent functions when no backhaul link isavailable. Local EPC 1120 may include local HSS 1122, local MME 1124,local SGW 1126, and local PGW 1128, as well as other modules. Local EPC1120 may incorporate these modules as software modules, processes, orcontainers. Local EPC 1120 may alternatively incorporate these modulesas a small number of monolithic software processes. Virtualization layer1130 and local EPC 1120 may each run on processor 1102 or on anotherprocessor, or may be located within another device.

Processor 1102 and baseband processor 1106 are in communication with oneanother. Processor 1102 may perform routing functions, and may determineif/when a switch in network configuration is needed. Baseband processor1106 may generate and receive radio signals for both radio transceivers1110 and 1112, based on instructions from processor 1102. In someembodiments, processors 1102 and 1106 may be on the same physical logicboard. In other embodiments, they may be on separate logic boards.

The first radio transceiver 1110 may be a radio transceiver capable ofproviding LTE eNodeB functionality, and may be capable of higher powerand multi-channel OFDMA. The second radio transceiver 1112 may be aradio transceiver capable of providing 3GPP WCDMA functionality. Bothtransceivers 1110 and 1112 are capable of receiving and transmitting onone or more bands. In some embodiments, transceiver 1110 may be capableof providing both LTE eNodeB and LTE UE functionality, and transceiver1112 may be capable of UMTS BTS functionality, UMTS UE functionality, orboth. The transceivers may be switched. Transceiver 1110 may be coupledto processor 1102 via a Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express(PCI-E) bus, and/or via a daughtercard. As transceiver 1112 is forproviding LTE UE functionality, in effect emulating a user equipment, itmay be connected via the same or different PCI-E bus, or by a USB bus,and may also be coupled to SIM card 1118.

SIM card 1118 may provide information required for authenticating thesimulated UE to the evolved packet core (EPC). When no access to anoperator EPC is available, local EPC 1120 may be used, or another localEPC on the network may be used. This information may be stored withinthe SIM card, and may include one or more of an international mobileequipment identity (IMEI), international mobile subscriber identity(IMSI), or other parameter needed to identify a UE. Special parametersmay also be stored in the SIM card or provided by the processor duringprocessing to identify to a target eNodeB that device 1100 is not anordinary UE but instead is a special UE for providing backhaul to device1100.

Wired backhaul or wireless backhaul may be used. Wired backhaul may bean Ethernet-based backhaul (including Gigabit Ethernet), or afiber-optic backhaul connection, or a cable-based backhaul connection,in some embodiments. Additionally, wireless backhaul may be provided inaddition to wireless transceivers 1110 and 1112, which may be Wi-Fi802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ad/ah, Bluetooth, ZigBee, microwave (includingline-of-sight microwave), or another wireless backhaul connection. Anyof the wired and wireless connections may be used for either access orbackhaul, according to identified network conditions and needs, and maybe under the control of processor 1102 for reconfiguration.

Other elements and/or modules may also be included, such as a homeeNodeB, a local gateway (LGW), a self-organizing network (SON) module,or another module. Additional radio amplifiers, radio transceiversand/or wired network connections may also be included.

Processor 1102 may identify the appropriate network configuration, andmay perform routing of packets from one network interface to anotheraccordingly. Processor 1102 may use memory 1104, in particular to storea routing table to be used for routing packets. Baseband processor 1106may perform operations to generate the radio frequency signals fortransmission or retransmission by both transceivers 1110 and 1112.Baseband processor 1106 may also perform operations to decode signalsreceived by transceivers 1110 and 1112. Baseband processor 1106 may usememory 1108 to perform these tasks.

Alternatives

In some embodiments, services may be provided for both data and voice,for both control plane and user plane, for both circuit switched andpacket switched services. Various versions of CDMA, such as cdmaOne,CDMA2000, EVDO, etc. service could also be provided, in someembodiments, in a similar fashion. In some embodiments, the MSC could bea self-contained module, an inter-dependent module within HNG, or aseparate VM, for example. In some embodiments, multiple MSCvirtualization may be provided by way of a VNF or module.

In some embodiments, the HNG, and any of the modules/VNFs thereon, asdescribed throughout the present disclosure, may be in a virtual machineor may otherwise be enabled to be scalable, using load balancing,containerization, sharding, high availability, etc., with workloadsdivided by various factors, such as per RAN, per user, thresholded basedon load, etc.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from thespirit or essential characteristics thereof. The methods may apply toLTE-compatible networks, to UMTS-compatible networks, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G orother networks, networks that are combinations of multiple radio accesstechnologies, or to networks for additional protocols that utilize radiofrequency data transmission. With particular reference to 5G,interworking of UMTS or CDMA to interface with a 5G core network mayalso be supported, either in the case of 5G standalone or 5Gnon-standalone (i.e., 5G radio networks that are configured to leveragethe LTE EPC), and interworking, stateful proxying, network nodevirtualization, etc. may be used to interwork to 5G-native protocols.

The methods may apply to a core network supporting devices connected viaIP only (i.e., core only with no radio access network), or devicesconnected over Wi-Fi or another non-cellular access technology. Varioushardware or software components in the devices described herein may beadded, removed, or substituted with those having the same or similarfunctionality. Various steps as described in the figures andspecification may be added or removed from the processes describedherein, and the steps described may be performed in an alternativeorder, consistent with the spirit of the invention.

In the present disclosure, the words “NodeB” or “eNodeB” are used torefer to a cellular base station. However, one of skill in the art wouldappreciate that it would be possible to provide the same functionalityand services to other types of base stations, specifically to BTSes,non-3GPP base stations, CDMA base stations, CDMA2000 base stations,Wi-Fi access points, and home eNodeBs (HeNodeBs), as well as anyequivalents.

While the present disclosure uses the term “small cell,” this term isused merely to illustrate the concepts herein, and nothing is impliedregarding size, power level etc. for any cells that could be used withthe disclosed systems and methods, i.e. “small cell” may be interpretedas including macro cells, femto cells, multi-radio access technology(RAT) access nodes, indoor cells, outdoor cells, etc.

Various alternative embodiments are also contemplated by the inventors.For example, certain functions may be performed at a multi-radio accesstechnology node (multi-RAT) node, instead of at a base stationmanagement gateway. The base station management gateway maysubstantially take the form of the described Parallel Wireless HetNetGateway. The base station management gateway may be a network nodevirtualization gateway, or a network function virtualization server, orboth. The functions of the base station management gateway may be brokenup and spread across multiple network nodes, or multiple software orhardware modules within the same network node, and may be physicallylocated in a single location, or multiple locations. The network nodemay be in the data path located between the radio access network (RAN)and the core network, in some embodiments, or may be located at anotherlocation in the network. A high-bandwidth wired connection may be usedfor backhaul, such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, or Ethernet, ora reduced-bandwidth wireless connection, such as microwave,line-of-sight, or other physical connections may be used as backhaul.

The protocols described herein may be optimized for greater or lesserlatency, for more or fewer mesh nodes, for more or fewer data streams,and other alternatives. In some embodiments, these optimizations may beperformed at the eNodeB, at the base station management gateway, withina function performing radio resource allocation and coding selection, orat another location. In some embodiments, a base station managementgateway may identify and initiate power adjustments to improve channelquality.

In some embodiments, the mesh network nodes may provide complete orpartial guesses at what paths are the optimal or best paths during aparticular time interval, and may be enabled to send messages back tothe base station management gateway to communicate these complete orpartial guesses.

In some embodiments, the base stations described herein may becompatible with a 3GPP UMTS or Long Term Evolution (LTE) radiotransmission protocol or air interface. The LTE-compatible base stationsmay be eNodeBs. In addition to supporting the 3G WCDMA protocol, thebase stations may also support other air interfaces, such as LTE,UMTS/HSPA, CDMA/CDMA2000, GSM/EDGE, GPRS, EVDO, other 3G/2G, legacy TDD,or other air interfaces used for mobile telephony. In some embodiments,the base stations described herein may support Wi-Fi air interfaces,which may include one of 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad/af/ah. In someembodiments, the base stations described herein may support 802.16(WiMAX), or other air interfaces. In some embodiments, the base stationsdescribed herein may provide access to land mobile radio(LMR)-associated radio frequency bands. In some embodiments, the basestations described herein may also support more than one of the aboveradio frequency protocols, and may also support transmit poweradjustments for some or all of the radio frequency protocols supported.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, softwarethat, when executed, causes a device to perform the methods describedherein may be stored on a computer-readable medium such as a computermemory storage device, a hard disk, a flash drive, an optical disc, orthe like. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the presentinvention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe spirit or essential characteristics thereof. For example, wirelessnetwork topology can also apply to wired networks, optical networks, andthe like. The methods may apply to LTE-compatible networks, toUMTS-compatible networks, or to networks for additional protocols thatutilize radio frequency data transmission. Various components in thedevices described herein may be added, removed, or substituted withthose having the same or similar functionality. Various steps asdescribed in the figures and specification may be added or removed fromthe processes described herein, and the steps described may be performedin an alternative order, consistent with the spirit of the invention.Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to beillustrative of, but not limiting of, the scope of the invention, whichis specified in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a base stationmanagement gateway situated between a code division multiple access(CDMA) base transceiver station (BTS) and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC)core network, the base station management gateway also situated betweenan additional base station and the EPC core network, the base stationmanagement gateway further comprising: a stateful interworking proxyconfigured to perform interworking of CDMA signaling to EvolvedUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access(EUTRAN) signaling by using an S2a/S2b interface toward the EPC and anA10/A11 interface towards the CDMA BTS; and a packet routing virtualnetwork function configured to enable mobile devices attached to theCDMA BTS to obtain IP connectivity via the EPC core network by providinga packet data serving node (PDSN) interface to the CDMA BTS, andconfigured to also enable mobile devices attached to the additional basestation to obtain IP connectivity via the EPC core network, the packetrouting virtual network function in communication with the statefulinterworking proxy, wherein the stateful interworking proxy and thepacket routing virtual network function are configured to interwork CDMAprotocols to Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocols for communicating withand requesting resources from the EPC core network.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein CDMA is one or more of cdmaOne/IS-95, cdma2000,evolution data optimized (EVDO), evolution data and voice (EVDV), orUltra Mobile Broadband.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the basestation management gateway is further configured to communicate via a P1interface towards an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA)server, and a P-H interface toward a home agent or home AAA server, onbehalf of the mobile devices attached to the CDMA BTS.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the packet routing virtual network function isconfigured to terminate point-to-point (PPP) sessions with mobiledevices attached to the CDMA BTS.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein thepacket routing virtual network function is configured to act as a mobileIP foreign agent for mobile devices attached to the CDMA BTS.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the base station management gateway furthercomprises a base station controller (BSC) and packet mobile switchingcenter (MSC) virtual network function.
 7. The system of claim 1, whereinthe base station management gateway further comprises a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP) proxy for connecting SIP protocol voiceconnections.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the SIP proxy acts as aSIP user agent (UA) on behalf of mobile users, performs SIP signalingtowards an IP Mobility Subsystem (IMS) core network within the EPC corenetwork, and performs interworking between CDMA and SIP signalingprotocols.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station managementgateway is configured to interact with the additional base station as ahome nodeB gateway (HNBGW).
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the basestation management gateway is configured to terminate an encryptedconnection with a CDMA mobile device, thereby providing a secure anchorpoint for the CDMA mobile device for connection to the EPC core network.11. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station management gatewayis a virtualization gateway providing virtualization by using a singleidentifier towards the EPC core network for a plurality of eNodeBs, homeNodeBs, or CDMA BTSes.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the basestation management gateway is configured to perform inter-radio accesstechnology steering of a session from a first radio access technology(RAT) to a second RAT, the first RAT being CDMA and the second RAT beingone of 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and wireless local area networking (WLAN). 13.The system of claim 1, wherein the base station management gateway isconfigured to provide one or more application-aware inter-radio accesstechnology (inter-RAT) slices across CDMA, 3G, 4G, 5G, and wirelesslocal area networking (WLAN) technologies, the inter-RAT slices beingbased on application-layer information gathered at the base stationmanagement gateway.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the base stationmanagement gateway is configured to provide handovers between the CDMABTS and one or more of a 2G base station, a 3G base station, a 4G basestation, a 5G base station, and a Wi-Fi access point.